Glad to see a season 2; although, I was disappointed with how Arata's character was inserted then ripped out for awhile to be brought back bit by bit. I felt Chihayafuru really had a connection with him and then it was taken away and it still feels like something is missing to me...

Ditto. Don't get me wrong Taichi is a sweet guy and all but for some reason I like Arata better. He's bound to show up more in season 2.

Glad to see a season 2; although, I was disappointed with how Arata's character was inserted then ripped out for awhile to be brought back bit by bit. I felt Chihayafuru really had a connection with him and then it was taken away and it still feels like something is missing to me...

Ditto. Don't get me wrong Taichi is a sweet guy and all but for some reason I like Arata better. He's bound to show up more in season 2.

I've never replied to a forum post before so if I did this wrong oops! I'm glad someone else agrees with me. I am curious to see where season 2 goes. I also agree with you on Taichi, seems to be a good person but I like Arata better as well.

Still confusing that this is officially josei by the magazine it runs in as a manga. Their ages are definitely shojo, ah well...

It's also technically a sports anime. It's one of the few shows that is really hard to classify, but I don't care: I love this show and the characters. :)

I'm so glad it's back!!! This was the #1 show I was looking forward to this season.

It will be interesting to see how the new characters develop, but I liked how Sumire was introduced. I guess we'll find out Akihiro's motivation next episode. Maybe he's after Chihaya? Probably not. ;)

Really enjoyed the first episode, I feel this season will definitely live up to season 1.

I still love Chihaya as a main character - her reactions to everything are fab. Not so sure about Sumire yet but it's nice that they're extending the characters in the series.
I'm definitely hoping they will be more of the relationships between Taichi, Arata and Chihaya, I felt that was a real strong point in season 1.

I know, for such a passionate base of fans that count down on the guest boards how many days/hours/minutes until the next episode, there's not a lot of discussion here. Yet I always feel like there's lots to discuss.

Like the fact that after going back and watching much of the first season again, it seems clear to me that "Chihaya x Taichi" is never going to happen. It's so obvious now that, despite him being in love with her since elementary school, she was in love with Arata since the second she bumped into him. I have no idea what would change that. The new girl shamelessly blurted out her intentions for Taichi to Chihaya, and her response was more shock that someone would be motivated by something other than karuta. So the people holding out that Sumire will make Chihaya realize Taichi is "the one across the mat from her," I suspect will be disappointed.

Completely unrelated, but I liked that remark Taichi made to Tsuboguchi about how he didn't want to stay in school too long because "that's the one area you can beat Master Suo." Awesome way to insult both of them.

2nd ep was another great one and I'm glad they focused on the new Karuta club members. Somehow, I wasn't surprised that the majority of the members left, or at least, didn't show up using the excuse to check out other clubs.

tcfenstermakerwrote:
Completely unrelated, but I liked that remark Taichi made to Tsuboguchi about how he didn't want to stay in school too long because "that's the one area you can beat Master Suo." Awesome way to insult both of them.

Yeah, that was funny! ^__^

My favorite part of this episode (@12:07 mark) was when Sumire was talking about love and that she joined the club to be with Taichi. And after explaining that to Kanade and Chihaya, Kanade thinks to herself "She's seriously crazy about love" and good ol' Chihaya has a COMPLETELY different interpretation in that Sumire is "Crazy about Karuta." - gotta love Chihaya's denseness sometimes, lol.

I thought it was a little weird too that Kanade asked Sumire to help her put mascara on because she only has 3 eyelashes! Is that not strange reasoning?!? Lol.